Media Coverage

“A way to slow down and enjoy the season while helping others with a tummy full of soup… what more could you ask for in a bustling city’s coldest months?” — The Urbaness

“Compact and red, and packed with recipes from local food writers … the Soup & Bread Cookbook is packed with no-frills, hearty, DIY flavor. Just like Chicago.” — New City

“A testament to the the impact of food as a tool for community building and the impact of sharing resources in an uncertain economy. … Get this book while it’s hot.” — Bitch Magazine

“There are a lot of interesting soup recipes in Soup & Bread, but to me the most motivating element of the book is the chapter introductions, which outline the various ways that people can use soup to ‘build community one pot at a time.’” — Isthmus

“In visits to a Chicago church basement, a neighborhood soup swap in Seattle, a Detroit artists’ community, and the ongoing discussion about social responsibility at the Jane Adams Hull House Re-Thinking Soup project (which now echoes through the halls of the White House), Bayne stirs up an inspiring, joyful and delicious celebration of shared connections.” – The Local Beet

“Beautifully written, generous and honest, the book looks at community building through lenses as various and diverse as the country has to offer. Bayne finds people of many kinds – immigrants, nuns, urban farmers, artists and activists – each using soup to bring people together and knit up what has become unraveled.” — Tikkun

“Soup is sometimes more than soup. It’s sustenance, comfort, a lifesaver, and a social glue. Martha Bayne explores the social function of soup, weaving stories of soup swaps, soup kitchens, and soup feasts. … The recipes are inspired and the dishes outstanding.” — Today’s Diet & Nutrition

“The perfect gift for anyone who’s trying to survive a Chicago winter … the book contains almost 100 recipes that are designed to bring people together, feed the soul, and, yep, fill your belly.” — PopSugar

“Historically soup has been considered a simple, economic dish, and is often shared as a means of charity. But Bayne is more interested in making a connection with people, taking a note more from the Hull House and community centers than a conventional soup kitchen.” — UP Chicago, “Required Reading”

“Soup, you could say, has become Bayne’s bread and butter.” — Real Change

“A book like this makes me think that really, I could live a lovely and fulfilling life and eat only soup.” – Time Out Chicago, which named the Soup & Bread Cookbook one of “10 essential cookbooks for autumn”

“One of the most thought-provoking (and appetizing!) books I’ve picked up in a long time.” — Baltimore’s Examiner.

“Every noble thing in this world begins with bored bartenders in the dead of winter in Chicago. . . . Adorable.” — Grub Street Chicago

”In the spirit of those plastic-bound church cookbooks, the bulk of the recipes are tried and true favorites from regular people . . . . [It's] a handsome package.” — Chicago Journal

” The book reflects the almost palpable enthusiasm for soup that can be felt at the events, from Bayne’s informative essays to Paul Dolan’s charming illustrations to the recipes themselves, which preserve the writers’ individual voices.” –Chicago Reader